Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA | Ranking: #48
Type: Coastal resort | Designers: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
Editor’s Note: Kapalua’s Plantation Course uses Maui’s dramatic elevation, trade winds and broad Pacific views to create one of the most distinctive resort-golf settings in the United States. Coore and Crenshaw’s large-scale design rewards golfers who use slopes and angles rather than simply aiming directly at every target.
Contact & Planning
- Website: kapalua.com. Confirm current visitor access, green fees, resort arrangements and course conditions directly before travelling.
- Access: Maui travel and ground-transfer conditions can change; use current local information when planning the journey to Kapalua.
Course Character
Elevation changes, wide fairways and persistent wind create much of the strategy. The course can play very differently as wind direction and strength change, and the broad landing areas often reward choosing the correct side rather than simply finding short grass.
Key Notes & 19th Hole
- Tournament identity: the Plantation Course has a long association with the PGA Tour’s season-opening Hawaii events; check the current professional schedule rather than relying on historic event naming.
- Marine wildlife: humpback whales may be visible offshore during the Hawaiian winter migration season, but sightings are never guaranteed.
- Stay · Play · Recover: Kapalua’s resort accommodation, dining and wellness options support a multi-day golf stay; use current resort information rather than fixed historical pricing or a generic Expedia CTA.
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